Park City Library books its moving dates

Facility closes Monday, temporary space opens in late May

Joe Frazier and Carolyn Taylor, who work for the Summit County Library, on Thursday label books at the Park City Library with color codes and numbers in anticipation of moving the books as the facility closes for a major renovation. The numbers and the color codes will signal to crews where the books should be taken during the move. Christopher Reeves/Park Record

A bookworm will be without a library in Park City for two weeks starting on Monday.

But they will have a much nicer one in a year.

The Park City Library will close on Monday for a major renovation expected to last 12 months. On May 27, the Tuesday after Memorial Day, a temporary location will open at Miners Hospital, across Park Avenue from the library.

Adriane Herrick Juarez, the library director, said staffers and volunteers in the last week were labeling each item to ensure they are put in the right location while the facility is closed. The work involved the entire library staff, other City Hall employees, assistance from the Summit County Library as well as volunteers.

The materials will be split between Miners Hospital, the Marsac Building and storage units. The book shelves at the library will be taken down and then rebuilt at Miners Hospital. A firm that specializes in moving library collections was hired for the work.

In the time between the Monday closure and May 27 opening at Miners Hospital, someone cannot check out materials. They may return them to a book drop that will be at Miners Hospital, though. The Park City Library suggests people use the Summit County Library during the two weeks. The two libraries have arranged a partnership for the closure.

A so-called Book Brigade is scheduled on May 27, but details have not been finalized.

"The Miners Hospital is a beautiful facility," Herrick Juarez said, calling the building "much loved.

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She noted Miners Hospital, one of Park City's most recognizable historic buildings, once served as the city's library. People have told her they are looking forward to the temporary quarters at Miners Hospital. The building will be busier than at any time since 2008 and 2009, when the Marsac Building was closed for a major renovation. Miners Hospital at that time housed some of the displaced municipal offices.

People who want items from the library that will be in storage will need to request them. Herrick Juarez said the items will be retrieved within 24 to 48 hours. The library's catalog will remain available online.

The renovation and associated expenses, such as moving the materials, are estimated at $9.3 million, up sharply from a $5.6 million price tag discussed in 2013. The largest increases were climbing construction costs and the addition of environmental and structural upgrades. The work will create a 21st century library, officials have said.

The Park City Council in February cast a split vote, 3-2, to move forward with the renovation. The supporters indicated they were comfortable with the plan while the dissenters mentioned issues like the rising cost. Supporters in the community argued that Park City needs a modern-day library.

City Hall has reached a deal valued at a little more than $1 million with a construction firm for the early mobilization and to conduct the interior demolition. Officials anticipate hiring a firm in June for the renovation itself. That deal will be the largest in dollar value. Major work is expected to start shortly after a firm is hired.

The work at the facility will include a $330,000 upgrade to the Santy Auditorium. A digital projection system and a new sound system will be installed. City Hall, Sundance Film Festival organizers and the Park City Film Series will split the cost nearly evenly.

The upgrades to the Santy Auditorium are expected to be completed by the time Sundance starts in January. The auditorium is a screening room during Sundance.

The two tenants occupying space in the Park City Library and Education Center will move out during the work and return afterward.

The Park City Cooperative Preschool will relocate to space at the Park City Ice Arena for the summer. The preschool will operate at the Recreation Building at City Park during the 2014-2015 school year.

The Park City Film Series will screen its movies starting in September at The Prospector on Sidewinder Drive. They will be in the same space Sundance uses for screenings. The Film Series will return to its usual venue, the Santy Auditorium at the Library and Education Center, in February.

The Film Series will share office space in Prospector with the Park Silly Sunday Market while the work at the library is underway.

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